“Claiming back my throne is parallel to the word grace. The day I realised that the calling on my life is bigger than me and my own comfort, was the day I had to look into the mirror and have an honest conversation with myself. Hitting rock bottom was the best place for me to truly understand what life is all about.”
Jeanré du Preez is the owner of eMODELS & Influencers.Co and a Qualified Brain Practitioner.
She says she has made terrible decisions and that the road to healing and forgiveness is one of the hardest roads she has had to travel.
“It takes a lot more courage to travel the road less travelled. Reclaiming back my throne was a journey of letting the past go. There is nothing there anymore. We often hold onto ‘what was’ that we miss the entire present,” she says.
Jeanré says a quote from Jordan Peterson – “Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient” – is engraved in her heart. “Nothing that I do must ever be just ‘by the way’.”
She has worn many different hats over the years. She started eMODELS when she was merely 15 and has literally grow up alongside her brainchild.
“I wish I could mention all the things that have happened in my life over the past four years. From the massive changes, ups and downs, losses and small victories and uncertainty. In the past four years I can honestly say that I have tried more than one business venture. Not all of them lasted. eMODELS endured all of my struggles with me. Here we are, 15 years later. Re-branded, re-launched with a new vision and a fresh approach to the modelling and influencing industry,” she expresses.
She adds that despite the everyday business challenges everyone in business faces, she thinks one of the biggest challenges in the modelling and influencing industry is the misconception of what the industry is all about.
“The world portrays a very vain idea of modelling and influencing. You pose, have a pretty face, and you have a lot of followers, and then you make money. This is nothing further from the truth. Although modelling and influencing are two separate industries, they do work together in a lot of ways,” she says.
“Facing challenges is inevitable. We will all face challenges in life and sometimes a battle has to be fought more than once. I keep my focus on the assignment in front of me. The minute I side-track, that is when I lose momentum. I choose to walk through the challenge, head-on so that I can put it behind me and move on. I choose to see perspective instead of defeat. I have learned that when you look at the challenges around you, you will get paralyzed. This is where you do not want to be. I have been paralyzed with challenges in my life until I made a conscious decision to always look beyond the challenge and not hold on to a victim mentality,” she adds.
Jeanré believes that adversity has played a significant role in shaping her character. She says facing difficult situations and overcoming obstacles has taught her resilience, determination, and the importance of maintaining a positive mind-set.
“These experiences have instilled in me the belief that setbacks can be opportunities for growth and that perseverance is key. I have also been deeply influenced by my interactions with others. Relations with family, friends, business acquaintances, and even strangers have shaped my perspective of the world. Different situations and encounters have allowed me to broaden my horizons and foster empathy and compassion towards others.”
Starting out she wishes she understood the value of “destiny relationships” in her life and in business.
“Destiny relationships are what will carry you through the journey of life. We all need people in our lives that are our gatekeepers, advisors, and cheerleaders. Business is an exciting roller coaster, never allow the fear of failure to keep you out of the game. I have held onto failure for a very long time. Meanwhile, I never failed, I only learned 10 ways of how not to do something. Failure is a state of defeat in your mind and not in reality. You have another shot if you show up and try again,” she says.
Jeanré advises those starting out to always keep the vision alive.
“You need to have a clear realisation that you are headed to a place that is better than where you are now. Silent any voices of inferiority. Don’t be moved by the opinions of others or the natural situation around you. Ask questions, ask for help, and do not be ashamed of where you are in your journey – comparison is the thief of all joy. Take responsibility for your life, hard work will always be rewarded,” she advises.
“Reset. Restart. Refocus. Go. You have everything you need to be a history-maker. The world needs you.”
When asked what she loves about Bloemfontein and having her business based here, she says there really is no place like it.
“I have worked and stayed abroad and outside of Bloemfontein. I can boldly say that there are a lot of opportunities in Bloemfontein, the people in Bloemfontein are always ready to help and assist. We are a community,” she says.
She believes that business networking in Bloemfontein is something she hasn’t experienced outside of Bloemfontein.
“We are very spoilt in Bloemfontein with more than enough resources. I enjoy working and living in here. Overall it is a ‘lekker’ place with ‘lekker’ people. I also love the fact that people understand Afrikaans and of course the ‘Cheetah-gees’ – nothing like a Cheetah weekend in BloemFUNtein.”
Text: JUSTINE FORTUIN Photography: GYPSEENIA LION Makeup: MUD STUDIO BLOEMFONTEIN Hair: JADIE PROFESSIONALS Dress: CASPER BOSMAN STUDIOS
